The Newsletter of the American Pilots’ Association

March 1, 2016 Page 1 (NAVTECH) will meet on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to discussing the latest issues in electronic navigation practice and equipment, plans are under way to have NAVTECH members hear from various While many pilots government officials with responsibilities for naviga- around the country are tion programs. dealing with the chills The Suppliers’ Exhibition, an excellent oppor- of winter, a warm is- tunity to meet with maritime and pilotage related land breeze is on the vendors to discuss their products, will be held on way. Plans are well Wednesday and Thursday. underway for the 2016 As always, several social events will be held Biennial Convention, which is being held from Octo- during the week, including a Welcome Reception on ber 24-28 at the beautiful Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel Monday, a traditional luau on Wednesday, and a and Resort in Maui. The Convention is an un- closing Gala on Friday. matched opportunity for the Nation’s pilots to gather, To make attendance arrangements, go to share ideas and strengthen the pilotage system in the www.americanpilots.org and click “2016 APA U.S. This year’s Convention is hosted by the nine Convention.” There, pilots and other attendees can pilot associations in the Pacific Coast States: Alaska book flights, make hotel reservations, and register Marine Pilots, Columbia River Pilots, Columbia Riv- for the Convention. Pilots can also view the Exhibi- er Bar Pilots, Coos Bay Pilots, Hawaii Pilots, Puget tor Directory by clicking on “Exhibitor Registration” Sound Pilots, San Francisco Bar Pilots, Southeast and dragging the mouse over the booth diagrams. Alaska Pilots and Southwest Alaska Pilots. As always, the work week will be preceded by APA OFFICERS HOLD FEBRUARY some fun and camaraderie. On Sunday, October 23rd MEETING IN WASHINGTON, DC the 14th Biennial APA Golf Outing will be held at the stunning Wailea Golf Club. While the winning foursome will get to raise the coveted Admiral’s Cup, the course’s carpet-like fairways, tropical foli- age and gorgeous ocean views will be consolation enough for those who don’t finish “in the money”! The first day of pre-convention meetings is Monday, October 24th. The day starts with the Attor- neys’ Meeting, which is focused on recent develop- ments in pilotage law. Later in the afternoon, vari- ous APA committees will meet to finalize proposals and nominations. On Tuesday, October 25th, the Shown from left to right during the February 23rd meeting of Convention officially opens and will run through Fri- the APA officers held at the Association’s Washington, DC day, October 28th. During these General Sessions, offices are: Captain Jorge Viso (VP, South Atlantic States), Captain Eric Nielsen (VP, North Atlantic States), Captain association business will be taken up and attendees Danny Gallagher (VP, Great Lakes), Captain Peter McIsaac will hear from federal agency officials, as well as (Acting APA President & VP, Pacific Coast States), Captain Congressional representatives and/or staff. Whit Smith (Secretary Treasurer) and Captain Steve Hathorn The Navigation and Technology Committee (VP, Gulf States / Louisiana). Captain Mike Torjusen (VP, Gulf States) was unable to attend this meeting.

Page 2 ON STATION March 1, 2016 IMO CONTINUES UPDATE OF ence group. FATIGUE GUIDANCE The new fatigue guidance is expected to be

The IMO’s Subcommittee on completed during the next meeting of HTW which Human Element, Training and will be held in February 2017. APA will continue to work on this important issue. Watchkeeping (HTW) met in Lon- don for its 3rd Session from February 1-5. APA’s Deputy Director-Associate General Counsel, Clay Diamond and Captain Andrew McGovern (Sandy Hook Pilots), in his capacity as

Chairman of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advi- sory Committee (MERPAC), served on the U.S. IMPA AND MAIIF PUBLISH WHEELHOUSE POSTER FOR BRIDGE TEAMS Delegation as private sector advisors. While HTW took up a wide range of issues, The International Maritime Pilots’ Association including work aimed at improving cruise ship safe- (IMPA) and the Marine Accident Investigators Inter- ty, validation of model courses on radar navigation, national Forum (MAIIF) published a new wheel- and revising guidance on the implementation of the house poster that provides guidance to bridge teams ISM Code, the agenda item of most importance to on working with pilots. The poster, titled, “Safe pilots is the review and update of fatigue guidance. Navigation in Pilotage Waters,” draws on various The existing guidelines (“Guidance on Fa- studies and marine accident investigations by MAIIF tigue Mitigation and Management,” Circular 1014) and surveys by IMPA. The two organizations exam- were approved by IMO in 2001. Circular 1014 con- ined the operational practices of the bridge team sists of 9 modules; one is a general overview of fa- while a vessel is under pilotage and identified a num- tigue, and several other modules cover specific ber of common shortcomings. types of mariners (e.g., officers, masters, engineers, The poster was developed after more than a year tug personnel and pilots). of cooperation between MAIIF members (including Two important principles were agreed by the U.S. and Canadian National Transportation Safe- HTW at the outset of the review. First, any fatigue ty Boards) and IMPA. APA’s Executive Director- guidelines that are produced will continue to be rec- General Counsel, Paul Kirchner, participated in the ommendatory, not mandatory requirements. Sec- effort on behalf of U.S. pilots. ond, rather than have numerous modules aimed at The poster is being distributed to shipping inter- different types of mariners, there will be one mod- ests through various outlets by both IMPA and MAI- ule titled “Fatigue and the Seafarer.” This module IF. It will be interesting to see if the wheelhouse will contain fatigue information that is broad and posters begin appearing on bridges of ships entering flexible enough to be useful to all mariners. U.S. ports. In this regard, if any APA-member pilot The review of the fatigue guidelines was not notices one of these posters in the course of a pilot- completed at this session of HTW; so work will ing assignment, please advise the APA office. continue over the next year though a correspond- The respective obligations of bridge teams and American Pilots’ Association pilots are well-established in various IMO instru- 499 South Capitol Street, S.W., Suite 409 ments. The STCW Code emphasizes the importance Washington, D.C. 20003 of an ongoing exchange of information between the (202) 484-0700 • Fax: (202) 484-9320 master and the pilot and states that “despite the du- Captain Peter McIsaac ················ Acting President Captain Whit Smith ··················· Secretary-Treasurer ties and obligations of pilots, their presence on board Captain Eric A. Nielsen ··············· Vice President-North Atlantic States does not relieve the master or officer in charge of the Captain Jorge J. Viso ·················· Vice President-South Atlantic States Captain Michael C. Torjusen ········ Vice President-Gulf States navigational watch from their duties and obligations Captain Stephen H. Hathorn ········· Vice President-Gulf States (Louisiana) for the safety of the ship.” Similarly, IMO Resolu- Captain Peter McIsaac ················ Vice President-Pacific Coast States Captain Danny H. Gallagher ········· Vice President-Great Lakes tion A960 provides that: “Masters and bridge offic- Paul G. Kirchner ······················· Executive Director-General Counsel ers have a duty to support the pilot and to ensure that Clayton L. Diamond ··················· Deputy Director-Assoc. General Counsel William R. Cairns ····················· Navigation Technology Advisor his/her actions are monitored at all times.” A960 Lisa Powell Townshend ·············· Operations Director also states: “The master, bridge officers and pilot

ON STATION is published by the American Pilots’ Association, a non- share a responsibility for good communications and profit professional association composed of groups of state-licensed pilots understanding of each other’s role for the safe con- operating in each of the coastal states, as well as groups of U.S. registered duct of the vessel in pilotage waters.” pilots in the Great Lakes region. Each pilot in APA-member groups receives ON STATION, the costs of which are paid from the member’s dues. Any The poster is available at: comments, suggestions or questions concerning ON STATION should be http://www.impahq.org/downloads.php directed to the attention of the APA office at the above address.

Page 3 ON STATION March 1, 2016 USCG AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015 SIGNED INTO LAW

The House and the Senate, in genuine bipartisan cooperation, came together in February to pass the Coast Guard Authorization Act APA TRACKS ROUTE OF 2016 of 2015 (CGAA). The CGAA was e-NAVIGATION UNDERWAY CONFERENCE signed into law by the President on February 8th. This maritime legislation, in addition to author- On February 2-4, APA participated in the Inter- izing funding and personnel levels for the Coast national e-Navigation Underway 2016 conference, Guard and Federal Maritime Commission, includes held aboard the ferry MS Pearl Seaways sailing from several provisions that can impact pilots. Copenhagen to Oslo and back. The theme this year APA followed the legislation closely as it was “The Coordinated Approach” of e-Navigation. moved through various House and Senate subcom- Paul Kirchner, APA Executive Director-General mittees and committees. There are Counsel, and Bill Cairns, APA Navigation Technolo- three sections of the law that are of gy Advisor, joined roughly 125 other attendees. The particular importance for pilots. theme was the coordination of those international Specifically, the legislation includes and non-governmental groups involved with e- provisions that direct the Coast navigation under the lead of IMO, such as IHO, Guard to: IALA, IMPA, and others. The conference kicked off with the keynote ad- Section 210. Within six months, dress of the new IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Kitack establish and publish a detailed pro- Lim. Captain Simon Pelletier, President of IMPA, Rep. Garamendi cess, including a plan for advanced gave the pilot perspective, stressing pilot-industry public notification, for the discontin- coordination with emphasis on consensus-building, uance of any aid to navigation; practical solutions and a realistic, evolutionary ap- Section 309. Establish a program of “trusted proach to e-navigation. agents” (medical professionals trained on maritime This conference has earned the reputation as a physical standards and listed on a registry) who are venue for stretching the definition of e-navigation, qualified to conduct mariner physicals and issue and this year was no exception. For example, Medical Certificates; and presentations on the concept of electronic route ex- change and its broad extension to sea traffic manage- Section 610. Refrain from “activities related to the ment go beyond any definition of e-navigation dismantling or disposal of” LORAN-C related infra- agreed at IMO. In addition to representing the inter- structure until the Homeland Securi- ests of member pilots, APA attends this conference ty Secretary certifies to Congress to keep an eye on such “outlier” concepts. that the infrastructure is not needed as backup to GPS. THEME SET FOR House Coast Guard and Mari- 2016 DAY OF THE time Transportation Subcommittee SEAFARER

(CG&MT) Chairman, Rep. Duncan On June 25th of each Hunter (R-CA), said about the bill’s Rep. Hunter year, the International Mari- passage, “I am pleased that the Coast time Organization (IMO) Guard reauthorization bill finally reached the Presi- observes the Day of the dent’s desk.” Hunter added, “This bipartisan legisla- Seafarer. The goal of this tion...addresses our maritime sector and makes quali- day is to highlight “just how ty regulatory changes to strengthen this important important seafarers are to everyone on the planet, as part of our economy.” they transport all over the world those vital items, CG&MT Ranking Member, Rep. John Gara- commodities and components which are so critical mendi (D-CA), made reference to navigation safety vital to all our daily lives.” when he said, “I am pleased that this legislation The theme for 2016's Day of the Seafarer is “At moves the United States one step closer to building a Sea for All.” This special day to honor mariners was reliable backup navigation and timing signal for established by the IMO in 2010. GPS.”

Page 4 ON STATION March 1, 2016 NTSB UNVEILS 2016

“MOST WANTED LIST”

On January 13, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) unveiled its 2016 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improve- ments, calling it a “road map from lessons learned to PUGET SOUND PILOTS ENSURE lives saved.” The list focuses on 10 broad safety im- LARGEST SHIP TO EVER CALL IN U.S. TRANSITS SAFELY IN SEATTLE provements that the NTSB believes are of the highest priority for the coming year. While some of these The largest cargo ship to ever visit the United matters are linked specifically to certain modes of States, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, arrived transportation (e.g., highway, railroads, or aviation), in Seattle early on the morning of Monday, February other items on the Most Wanted List are applicable 29. The Benjamin Franklin has capacity for 18,000 to all modes of transportation, including maritime. TEUs - more than According to NTSB, distraction (especially double the cargo of from portable electronic devices) and fatigue contin- most container ships ue to be serious safety issues in all modes of trans- calling at Seattle area portation. In addition, the NTSB’s 2016 Most Want- terminals - and is ed List notes that undiagnosed and untreated medical 1,310 ft. long and 177 conditions have caused or contributed to numerous ft. wide. accidents, and the NTSB continues to call for trans- During the mas- portation regulatory agencies to require robust medi- sive vessel’s inbound cal examinations to ascertain fitness for duty. transit, Captain Jim The NTSB also stressed that impairment re- Shaffer was the lead Left to Right: Pictured immediate- mains a serious safety issue in all modes of transpor- pilot, conning the ves- ly after the pilotage assignment was compete are Captain Ed Mar- tation. While alcohol impairment is a concern, the sel, and Captain Ed mol, Captain David Grobschmit NTSB notes drugs other than alcohol can also impair Marmol was the har- (President, Puget Sound Pilots) operators of various types of vehicles and vessels – bor pilot/electronics and Captain Jim Shaffer. whether these drugs are recreational, over-the- pilot. For the out- counter, or prescription. bound transit, Captain Peter Geise was the lead pilot Finally, the NTSB reiterated how much and Captain Ed Marmol again served as the harbor weight it gives to voyage data recorders. The press pilot/electronics pilot. Captain David Grobschmit, release announcing the Most Wanted List states, “all President of the Puget Sound Pilots, was onboard for of these most wanted transportation safety improve- the inbound assignment to ensure all prior ments are the result of our accident investigations. port arrangements and agreements were strictly fol- Our most powerful tool to learn safety lessons from lowed. accidents is data recorders. Thus, the list calls for According to port and pilot officials, the Benja- their increased use in all modes of transportation.” min Franklin’s stop in Seattle, as with prior port The complete Most Wanted List is available calls in Los Angeles and Oakland, is part of a test to at: www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx. see how quickly cranes at the ports can load and un- load the containers and how quickly containers can IOOS DIRECTOR be brought to and taken from the port. Since the VISITS APA Benjamin Franklin greatly exceeds the size of ships

On February 18, the ports usually see, the test calls will likely show Ms. Josie Quintrell, that parts of port infrastructure will need to be ex- Director of the Inte- panded. grated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Association As noted, the Benjamin Franklin had previously visited the APA offices. visited the port of Oakland. Below is a link to a time Ms. Quintrell met with Executive Director- -lapse video that shows the San Francisco Bar Pilots General Counsel, Paul Kirchner and Deputy Director safely navigating the huge vessel away from its -Associate General Counsel, Clay Diamond to dis- berth, turning it around, and heading the ship out to sea: cuss the latest developments with the IOOS program and to discuss how the program might better meet https://drive.google.com/open? the needs of pilots. id=0B_zyobmilOpuMEdybFBxLVhzZzg

Page 5 ON STATION March 1, 2016

OTHER COAST GUARD ANNOUNCMENTS

Over the past several months, there have been other Coast Guard APA PROMPTS IMPORTANT NMC announcements that are of general ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING MEDICAL interests to pilots:

CERTIFICATIONS

Shortly after the Coast Guard released an up- The NMC reiterated that applications for Merchant dated version of CG Form 719K (mariner medical Mariner Credentials (CG-719B) and Medical Certifi- form) early last Fall, the APA noted that the new cates (CG-719K), including any necessary support- form contained numerous flaws. In fact, APA views ing documentation, must be submitted to the appro- these flaws as so significant that the revised form is priate Regional Exam Center (REC), not the Nation- unusable by mariners or the USCG. al Maritime Center. This notice is available at: APA hosted a meeting on November 17 dur- www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/pdfs/ ing which APA and senior Coast Guard staff mem- mmc_and_mc_application_submittal_notice.pdf bers discussed the problems with the new 719K form and what steps might be taken to rectify the situation. The Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Alert (MSA During the meeting, APA strongly recommended 01-16) reminding mariners of the susceptibility of that the Coast Guard continue to authorize use of the the Global Positioning System (GPS) to jamming old 719K until these flaws are corrected. Captain and interference and of the importance of under- Peter McIsaac, Acting APA President, followed up standing how various navigation equipment (e.g., on this meeting with direct communications with radar, ECDIS, gyro units, etc.) could be impacted by Rear Admiral Paul Thomas, Assistant Commandant a loss of GPS signal. MSA 01-16 is available at: for Prevention Policy. www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg545/alerts/0116.pdf To its credit, the Coast Guard considered the APA’s concerns, and on December 17, 2015 the Na- On February 5, the Coast Guard published a Marine tional Maritime Center issued a Notice, which reads Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB 01-16, Change in part: “Until further notice, the National Maritime 2), to update mariners and the maritime industry on Center (NMC) will continue to accept applications any potential risks associated with the Zika Virus. for medical certificates submitted via the U.S. Coast This MSIB can be found at: Guard form CG-719K Rev (01-09) with an expira- www.uscg.mil/msib/docs/001_16_2-5-2016.pdf tion date of June 30, 2012.” The full NMC Notice is available at: In a January Federal Register Notice, the Coast www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/pdfs/ Guard announced that the minimum random drug med_cert_apps_719k.pdf testing rate for calendar year 2016 will remain at The APA strongly recommends that pilots 25%. The Coast Guard also indicated that, in ac- continue to use the previous version of the CG- cordance with 46 CFR §16.230(f)(2), it could in- 719K (Rev. 01-09) until further notice. For your crease this rate in 2017 if the positive random testing convenience, this version of the CG-719K is availa- rate for 2016 is greater than 1.0%. As a point of ref- ble on the APA website at: erence, the data for 2015 indicated that the positive www.americanpilots.org/719kRev1-09.pdf test rate was less than 1% (0.87%) across all parts of Since there could be some confusion or ques- the maritime industry. tions from physicians and/or pilot oversight officials about the continued use of an “expired” form, the APA also recommends that pilots keep a copy of the NMC Notice readily available. Over the past several years, the APA has DON’T FORGET THE APA PAC FUND worked very closely with Coast Guard Headquarters Send your voluntary contribution to: and the NMC to assist the agency in its efforts to APA Political Action Committee make improvements to its mariner credentialing and 499 South Capitol St., SW medical certification programs. We commend the Washington, DC 20003 Coast Guard for its willingness to collaborate with the APA and for taking prompt action to address the APA’s concerns with the CG-719K form.

Page 6 ON STATION March 1, 2016 CAPTAIN MIKE MORRIS APA NEWS EARNS MAJOR AWARD

At a February 4th meeting of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, Captain Michael A. Morris, immedi- ate past ACTION OF BOSTON PILOT Presiding Officer for the BOAT OPERATORS Houston Pilots, was SAVE LIVES awarded the Coast Guard The fast action of two Boston Distinguished Public Ser- Harbor Pilot Association pilot boat operators likely vice Award. saved the lives of three crewmembers of a tugboat Captain Morris was that sank in the icy waters of Boston Harbor on Feb- recognized for “over ruary 16. twenty years of faithful Captain Shawn Kelly turned the pilot boat Chel- and dedicated profession- al service to the water- sea around and began racing to the scene as soon as Captain Rob McLellan fellow Captain Joe Maloney received the distress call ways of Texas and the (USCG Sector Houston), from a tug in the North Channel. The call for help Nation.” Aside from the presents the Distinguished came in about 6:15 a.m. from the Emily Anne—a tug Gold and Silver Life- Public Service Award to operated out of Salem, Massachusetts. Saving Medals, this is the Captain Mike Morris. Kelly told local press outlets that he could see highest public recogni- the sinking tug’s navigation and mast lights, but with tion that the Commandant of the Coast Guard may a mile to go before arriving on scene, the lights van- award to a private citizen. ished. By the time the pilot boat arrived at the debris field, the three crewmen had been in the water for an ELECTIONS, SELECTIONS, estimated 3-5 minutes. The tug crew had apparently APPOINTMENTS, ETC. been unable to put on their survival suits, and were The following pilots’ association announced new officers: only wearing float coats.  Sabine Pilots: Captain Michael M. Egan (President), While Kelly maneuvered the pilot boat to the Captain Charles Lahaye (Vice President), Captain Bri- location of the tug crewmen, Maloney—putting him- an P. Thibodeaux (Secretary-Treasurer), and Captain self at risk—entered the water to pull the men to Joseph C. Arnaud (Boat Superintendent). safety. Fortunately, all crewmen and the pilot boat  Southwest Alaska Pilots Association: Captain Michael J. O’Hara (President), Captain Peter S. Garay (Vice operators were in good health after the incident. President), Captain Donal J. Ryan (Secretary-Treasurer), The water temperature at the time of the sinking Captain Eric Eliassen (Director), Captain C. Vincent was 37 degrees, and according to a Coast Guard Tillion (Director), Captain Ronald A. Ward II spokesman, it is unlikely that the crew could have (Director), and Captain Joshua S. Weston (Director). survived for more than 10 minutes in the water.  Puget Sound Pilots: Captain David W. Grobschmit (President), Captain Eric M. vonBrandenfels (Vice Presi- dent), Captain Eric C. Klapperich (Secretary-Treasurer), Captain Jostein E. Kalvoy (Director), Captain Alec J. Newman (Director), Captain John C. Scragg (Director), and Captain George P. Thoreson (Director).  Columbia River Pilots: Captain Rick D. Gill (President), Captain Jon Aschoff (Vice President), and Captain Tim K. Harris (Treasurer).  Biscayne Bay Pilots Association: Captain Jonathan D. Nitkin (Chairman), Captain Christopher S. Marlo (Vice Chairman), and Captain Geoffrey J. Pool.  Brazos Pilots Association: Captain Daniel Blanton (President), Captain Billy J. Burns (Vice President), Cap- tain John G. Gunning (Secretary-Treasurer), and Cap- tain James A. Teeter (Director).  Columbia River Bar Pilots: Captain Wayne Stolz (President), Captain Dan Jordan (Vice President), Captain Captain Joe Maloney, pilot boat operator with Boston John Torjusen (Secretary), and Captain James “Joe” Harbor Pilots, stands in front of the pilot boat Chelsea. Brady (General Member).